Gatundu South legislator Moses Kuria has alleged a plan that would see the Jubilee Party and Raila's Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Kanu merge.
In a statement on his social media pages on Thursday, April 9, the vocal legislator lamented Jubilee Party's decision to appoint new National Management Committee (NMC) members as a ploy to make sure the merger takes place.
"While others are taking advantage of the fact that High Court is not accessible with COVID-19 to change Jubilee party officials ahead of the merger with ODM and KANU. Roho Chafu! (unclean hearts)," Kuria wrote.
Jubilee party spokesperson Albert Mwemusi confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke the authenticity of the gazette notice in circulation but rubbished the claims of the merger between the three parties.
"That's laughable. There is no truth to that [the merger]. Parties are allowed to have communications. Now, because [Governor] Joho (ODM) and Shabhal are working together, would you say that there is a merger?" he posed
He added that the new appointments were carried out in accordance with the party constitution and there was no ill-will to be read into it.
"It is the prerogative of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint the members of the National Management Committee. Article 7(e) of the party constitution is clear about that," Mwemusi explained.
The gazette notice announced the appointment of four new officials including Lucy Nyawira Macharia, Marete Marangu, Walter Nyambati, James Nampaso and James Waweru as the new members of the NMC
The new officials will be replacing Fatuma Shukri, Pamela Mutua and Veronica Maina who had been serving in the same capacity.
The revelation of the changes to be made, however, drew surprise and anger amongst other senior party officials led by Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherargei and Lang'ata MP Nixon Korir.
"While we are dealing with coronavirus another virus is eating our Jubilee Party. Outright impunity," Langata MP Nixon Kori wrote.
"Mischief at Jubilee Party: change of party officials, I thought we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic first then Party politics later! Haiya! Katambe sasa (okay, let's get ready to rumble)," Cherargei added.
Moses Kuria could not be reached for comment by the time of going to press.
